LOC10:08
07:08 GMT
WASHINGTON, July 6 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis spoke by telephone with his Japanese counterpart Tomomi Inada to discuss North Korea's recent test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Pentagon said Wednesday.
Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana White said in a statement that Mattis and Inada both agreed that this test "represents an escalation and unacceptable provocation that undermines regional security and stability."
Mattis stressed the US "ironclad commitment to defend Japan and provide extended deterrence using the full range of US capabilities."
Mattis and Japan's defense minister affirmed that that the two countries "would continue to coordinate closely, including with the Republic of Korea, to strengthen deterrence and defense cooperation to maintain peace and security in Northeast Asia."
The US on Tuesday strongly condemned North Korea's launch of an ICBM, saying "testing an ICBM represents a new escalation of the threat to the United States, our allies and partners, the region and the world."
According to reports, the ballistic missile was launched near Panghyon airfield in the northwest of DPRK. It covered a distance of 933km during a 39-minute flight reaching an altitude of 2,802km. (end)
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